Thank you for your letter of March 20. While I appreciate the points
you raise, your commitment to "take into consideration" future
university involvement in the FLA falls too short of our expectations for
Penn to rejoin at this time. I am pleased to learn that the FLA will give
further consideration to the role of colleges and universities in its governance
structure and to the structure of the FLA's university advisory council
at the April board meeting. I am also pleased to hear that Penn may be able
to make a presentation to the FLA board at the April meeting. I would very
much appreciate your giving Penn this opportunity.

I hope to receive a positive response to this request before the FLA's
April board meeting, and look forward to your reply.

Thank you for your letter of March 15. While I appreciate the points
you raise, I am disappointed that the WRC has not made a sufficiently firm
commitment to address the balanced representation of colleges and universities
on the governing board at the founding conference on April 7. I am pleased
to learn of your "guarantee that at least half the board will represent
the college and university community" and look forward to the results
of the April conference. However, until the WRC has demonstrated that it
has created a balanced representation on its board, Penn cannot join.

At the same time, our commitment to this issue and our eagerness to work
with you are significant. Although I understand we cannot send representatives
to participate in the conference, I would very much appreciate your giving
Penn the opportunity to send two observers (one student and one staff member)
who might, at least briefly, present the University's view.

I hope to receive a positive response to this request before the founding
conference next week, and earnestly await your reply.

Sincerely,

Judith Rodin

Above are letters sent by President Rodin in response to the FLA & the WRC.